Malloy, DeStefano Join Forces To Stop Shootings

Two former political rivals are now joining forces in an effort to stop gun violence in Connecticut's major cities after recent shootings resulted in the deaths of several young people.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, both Democrats, want to stop the shootings at after-hours clubs, which are largely unregulated because they do not serve alcohol. But alcohol is still present under a bring-your-own-beer policy.

"These types of clubs are extremely dangerous,'' Malloy said at a weekend press conference in New Haven. "There's no reason to have underaged people allowed at these clubs after the normal closing hour of a restaurant establishment.''

The call for action came after the shooting death of 26-year-old fashion designer Erica Robinson at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday in New Haven. The shooting was adjacent to a topless club, and five New Haven residents were injured in the incident — two critically.

Officials want to stop the gun violence among young people in the cities in a multi-pronged attack against both the after-hours clubs and the nightclubs that cater to a mix of underage and legal-age drinkers.

The shooting came only two months after two fatalities in separate incidents outside Up Or On The Rocks, a well-known nightspot near the Hartford train station. Those shootings prompted Harford Mayor Pedro Segarra to call for changing the state law that currently allows 18-and-over parties in nightclubs where legal drinking is permitted in a separate area for those over 21.

The New Haven fatality was the fourth club-related death this year, meaning the clubs account for 25 percent of the 16 homicides in the city in 2013. The shooting prompted a major press conference that was attended by Malloy, DeStefano, Police Chief Dean Esserman and others.

DeStefano unveiled a series of proposals that received praise from Malloy, Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney of New Haven and Michael P. Lawlor, a former legislator and New Haven resident who is now Malloy's chief adviser on criminal justice issues.

Looney said Monday in an interview that the legislature will explore its options to tighten up the "nebulous area of after-hours clubs that are not selling alcohol'' across the state.

One of the ideas is to make sure that bouncers and private security officers at the clubs are trained and licensed by the New Haven Police Department.

"It might be something that needs legislation,'' Looney said of the training.

Another idea is to charge an additional fee or a surcharge on drinks to help pay for extra security. That might be allowed only in the cities or under a pilot program, Looney said.

Under a pilot program for New Haven that was passed by the legislature, Looney said that police currently can weigh in on liquor permit applications for various establishments. That pilot program has been extended to 2014.

Writing legislation in some circumstances can be tricky because lawmakers do not want to create unintended consequences that would harm law-abiding bar owners. Liquor issues are heavily lobbied by well-paid lobbyists at the state Capitol.

Lawlor, the former longtime co-chairman of the legislature's judiciary committee, is examining possible changes after the New Haven shooting generated attention this weekend.

"The specific place where this took place is not a licensed bar,'' Lawlor said in an interview Monday. "It's just a place where the owners were having a party, BYOB, and 20 bucks to get in. They're not serving any food. It's just a place, and they're charging a cover charge. It's immediately adjacent to a licensed bar, which does close at 2 a.m. because they have a liquor license. That's how they get around it in this specific case.''

Lawlor added, "Getting anything through the legislature that relates to liquor licenses or liquor laws is complicated.''

"If you can show the close relationship, potentially you could put the adjacent liquor license in jeopardy,'' Lawlor said. "The liquor laws are where you get control.''

Lawlor said that Malloy favors further restrictions in an attempt to limit violence, adding, "When he was mayor of Stamford, he was trying to do the same kind of things.''

In Hartford, 21-year-old Miguel Delgado of East Hartford was shot in late August outside Up Or On The Rocks at 50 Union Place after an argument that police said started over a spilled drink. Angel Morales, 25, is facing charges of murder and criminal possession of a firearm in the case.

A previous shooting outside the club on Aug. 4 resulted in the death of 19-year-old Brian Simpe of Manchester. Mike Cruz, 23, was charged with murder in Simpe's death and is in custody on $5 million bond. He also faces charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a permit.